"As far as I know, the work has not been completed yet. It is too early to speak
about any results," Gatilov added.

On May 4, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed a document during the fourth round of
Syrian talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, to form four "de-escalation zones" in Syria.

The most significant achievement of a three-pronged diplomatic effort since the
beginning of 2017 to reduce bloodshed in a war now in its seventh year, the deal
brought together three of consequential actors in the conflict from opposite
sides.

Russia and Iran back the Syrian government while Turkey supports some of the
armed insurgent groups that seek to topple the government.

The top United Nations envoy dealing with Syria, Staffan de Mistura, hailed the
memorandum, which took force on May 6, an "important, promising, positive step
in the right direction."

The agreement, which is to last initially for six months, calls for a pause in
fighting, including government airstrikes, and for unhindered aid deliveries in
and around the four main zones still held by rebels unaffiliated with the
Islamic State.

The pact, however, does not apply to militants associated with the Islamic State
or a Qaeda-linked group commonly known as the Nusra Front, which were designated
as terrorist and hence, left out of the Astana talks.

The de-escalation zones, envisioned as places where displaced Syrian civilians
could voluntarily return and settle, include the northern province of Idlib, the
central province of Homs, the East Ghouta region outside Damascus, and southern
Syria along the Jordanian border.

Neither the Syrian government nor the rebels signed the document although the
Syrian government voiced its support for it. Rebel groups objected, arguing it
left too many loopholes for the Syrian military to continue what they called
indiscriminate bombings of civilian areas.

While the de-escalation zone initiative was implicitly welcome by Washington,
which said it supported any effort "genuinely" aimed at creating "a credible,
peaceful resolution," it is unclear how the guarantors will monitor compliance.

Aleksandr Lavrentyev, the Russian negotiator at the talks, told Russian news
outlets that Russia could send observers and "work more closely" with countries
that back the rebels, including the United States and Saudi Arabia.

In an apparent opposition to the remarks, the Syrian government ruled out the
"de-escalation zones" being monitored by other actors, including the United
Nations.

"We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to
monitor the agreement," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem was quoted as
saying at a news conference in Damascus on May 8.

In addition to the compliance issue, the American intervention in the
agreed-upon zones is open to question.

A week ago, American troops attacked Syrian forces, targeting three vehicles
that were trying to set up a fighting position on the outskirts of a newly
established de-escalation zone close to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders,
according to military sources.

Russia, Iran and Turkey have to finalize maps of the de-escalation zones by June
4, though the deadline can be extended.

The fifth round of the Astana talks, set for mid-July, should be different from
previous ones as Iraqi forces are close to defeating ISIS militants in Mosul and
the surrounding province of Nineveh, which marks the end of the "caliphate" in
the country.